That's my message to the always-saintly Tanya Talaga. A columnist in 'The Globe and Mail', Talaga is again predictably self-righteous about having been wronged. It's getting old and tired.
Today she is writing about how today's university graduates need to, "Follow these seven sacred teachings." She also ties it all to National Indigenous History Month -- how convenient -- as she waxes lyrically about how wonderful everything "Indigenous" was before the White man came along and ruined it all. Talaga urges all Canadians to take this four weeks "......to celebrate and reflect on what it means to be First Nations, Métis or Inuit. Note that in addition to Aboriginal Awareness Week, they have tacked on another whole month....but I digress.
"It is not lost on me that the quintessential juxtaposition of Canada is experienced this month in two starkly different realities: A celebration of obtaining a diploma in a country where, for about 100 years, children were forced (Note: many parents wanted their children to attend and willingly sent them so they could get a better life and education) to attend so-called schools that worked to erase who they were -- places that took so much that generations afterward (How many afterward? One, two, three, 10, 20??) continue to pay the price of what Canada did."
Please.
Talaga's great-grandmother (So, three generations back) went to a residential school, but she herself was raised in urban Toronto and went to the University of Toronto. Her life was hardly marred by living on an isolated reserve with traumatized relatives, I'd wager. But, hey, there's money in writing about the ruination of Indigenous people by the evil White man, so let's keep it rolling!
She, with no first-hand knowledge, claims that, "Indigenous children in the residential school system never got to know the value, pride and utmost importance of a truly rich public education. They never had that right." (Really? Why not? And how do you know?)
Anyway, back to the seven, sacred teachings.
She lists them as:
- Love
- Respect -- does she respect everyone? Rhetorical
- Bravery -- this one she must have, judging by her relentless attacks on everything non-Indigenous
- Honesty -- hmmm.....?
- Humility -- that one she has missed
- Wisdom -- she's not yet old enough
- Truth -- apparently, only hers
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On another note, just saw a Peace Officer cruiser drive by and it made me wonder why people seem to think we need an Alberta provincial force? Currently we have the RCMP, Sheriff's forces, local forces in every city and Peace Officers. If we add on a provincial force, that would be five forces, comprising thousands of officer, for a province of only 4.8 million. Makes absolutely no sense to me, but there must be money in it somewhere for someone.
And what exactly is "sacred". Does it establish validity, authorization for something. It certainly a buzz word that seems not to have to defend itself.
ReplyDeleteSomeone ought to qualify multi generational trauma. I'm offspring of a residential school mother who enjoyed being educated
Obviously, Talaga personally decides what is "sacred", which does not mean it's valid. No one will establish what "multi-generational" trauma is because that would not advance the opportunity to keep it going and going and going....Yes, I know there are thousands who went to residential schools and consider themselves graduates -- not "survivors" or "victims". It's all so off-the-rails.
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